Fire-proof composite roof



(No Model.)

T. H. WHITE.

FIRE PROOF COMPOSITE ROOF.

No. 313,971. Patented Mar. 1'7, 1885.

i v W 17 E12 3 DE n. PETERS, Phuko-Lilhognphor w: mm" D c F1 Fries.

THOMAS H. \VHIT-E, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FiRE-PROOF COMPOSITE ROOF.

.ZPESIFILATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,971, dated March1'7, 1885.

Application filed January 12, 15395.- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin FireProof Com posite Roofs, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, having reference to the accompanying drawings,forming part" they are secure from any danger of creeping or sliding onor from their bed.- Italso is designed to obviate the difficulty thathas long been experiencediu concrete, bituminous, and

other forms of composite roofs arising from the alternate expansion andcontraction of the material of which the bed-layers are composed, (fromchange of temperature) which thereby moves the superimposed orwearinglayer and the parts or sections of which it is composed, which,especially in sloping or pitch roofs, are not apt to return to theirprevious positions. So, also, in another class of superimposed layersfor concrete or composite roofs, in which the wearing-surface iscomposedof gravel concreted with asphalt, bitumen, pitch, 830., itis awell-known fact that in consequence of expansion and contraction thegravel by these often recurring reactionary-forces becomes loosened fromthe bituminous or other adhesive ingredients, and also in the act ofdisplacement and separation breaks off portions of the cement that onceheld it in position, and so the waste continues, and each recurringshower washes loosened material into the evetroughing, preventing thefree passage of the water. Also, in many cases where (in hopes ofovercoming the latter difficulty) slate, tile, brick, &c., have beenused as an auxiliary layer or taken the place of the concrete from thealternating causes above noted, they have soon commenced to sag andtilt, and thus present an uneven surface to the weather, retarding theescape of the water from the roof instead of facilitating its passage.To obviate these various difficulties and to secure a roof Be 1t knownthat I, THOMAS H. XVI-UTE, of,

that shall continue intact alike under the infiuence of heat and frost,is the intention of this invention.

My invention consists in the use of copper or other metallic band orwire clamps that, passing through prepared slots and holes in adjoiningslates or other equivalent material constituing the superimposed orwearing layer of a composite roof, securely holds the same with asmoothand even surface to the weather, whatever may be the expansion orcontraction from change of temperature in the bed-layers beneath.

My invention also consists in laying the slate orits equivalent inashallow bed-layerof warm plastic pitch or other bituminous material,thus avoiding the necessity of heating the slate to enable it to embeditself in the layer beneath. It is a well-known fact that slate whenheated to a high temperature loses its integrity, and soon scales andbreaks.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a detail top view showing thedifi'erent layers or sections of the roof and the method of securing theslates of my composite roof. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the method of securing the slates inposition. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 isadetail transverse section at the peak or ridge of the roof, showingtheridge straps or clamps and their attachment to secure the opposite sidesof the root in counterpoise.

A represents the sheathing-boards that sup port the roof, which arepreferably notjointed, thus providing an opportunity for the felt, withits bituminous interlayers, to key itself betweeen the interstices ofadjoining boards, thus forming a rigid connection with thesheathing-boards below.

B represents two or more layers of roofing felt or paper, cementedtogether with tar, pitch, or other suitable bituminous material. Theroofing-felt is so placed as to break joints in its layers. I

G designates the bed-layer,of pitch or other bituminous material, onwhich the superimposed laycr of slates D are placed and embed ded whilethe bed is warm and plastic. By

this method the necessity of heating the slate, so as to enable it tobed itself, and the consequent loss of integrity in the slate itself, isavoided.

E and E are slotted apertures and holes in adjoining slates, in whichthe band-clamps F and wire clamps F engage and secure the slates inposition with asmooth and even wear ing-surface and presentation to windand weather. It will be seen that by this novel method of fastening theslates the permanence of a level lay is secured, as it is impossible forany of them to get out of position; so, also, for the same reason,a verythin bed-layer alone is needed beneath them, which, also, is agreatadvantage, for, in the'first place, the thin bed has not so great apower of expansion and contraction to strain the superimposed layer ofslate above it; and, secondly, there is a great saving ofmaterial andconsequent advantage in reduction of weight. This last is an advantagereadily appreciated by those skilled in the art to which this inventionpertains, who have a knowledge of the strong supports required tosustain a heavy concrete or composite roof.

G is a cant-strip at the eaves, rising just flush with the surface ofthe bituminous or bed layer, keeping it from overflowing its bounds inthe course of construction and from waste afterward. The cant-strip alsosupports the weight of the overhanging slates at the eaves, so thathowever much the bituminous cement may be softened by heat the slatescannot unduly press thereon. The cant-strip also forms a ready means ofattachment for the eaves-troughing, into which the slates empty.

H are staples that, passing through holes H in adjoining slates at theeaves, fasten into the cant-strip G, and serve the double purpose ofholding the slates down to their place at the caves, and supporting theroot from a tendency to creep or slide, especially when its bed-layer issoftened by heat.

I represents metallic strap'clamps, for use in double pitch roofs. Theseclamps are somewhat similar but heavier than those that connect theindividual slates. They pass through and engage in slotted apertures Iin the upper tier or ridge slates connecting the corresponding sides ofthe roof and holding them in counterpoise with each other.

The aforesaid strap-clamp I and staples H are of especial use when theinvention is applied to sloping and double-pitch roofs. Nails may alsobe used as additional security for attaching at the ridge ofpitch-roofs.

The slotted and other apertures, as also the heads of the clamps, &c.,are covered smoothly over with asbestus cement, or its equivalent.

This invention, unlike most other composite roofs, is alike suitable forapplication to both flat and pitch roofs. It is also, from its lightnessand peculiar attachmentof the slates, especially adapted for a renewalroof, it being of easy and secure application to cover and entirely hidethe shingle and other old roofs.

I claim as my invention 1. In a composite roof, the method hereindescribed of connecting the adjoining edges of the slates D by clampsthat engage in apertures formed in the slates forming the superimposedlayer of a composite roof, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a composite roof, the combination of the sheathing-boards A, twoor more layers of roofing felt or paper, B, dressed with tar or othersuitable bituminous material, pitch, or bituminous bed-layer O, with theslotted slates and clamps by which they are attached, all substantiallyas described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a composite roof, the combination of slates secured by clamps,cant-strip G, and staples H, passing through the slates into thecant-strip, all substantially as described, and for the purpose setforth.

4. In a composite roof, the combination of the sheathingboards, roofingfelt or paper, pitch, or other bituminous bed-layer, and superimposedlayer of slate,and attaching clamps and staples, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

5. In a composite roof, the combination of the slates secured byclamps,-and the straps or clamps I, extending over the peak or ridge ofthe roof, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. A composite roofcomposed of the sheathing-boards,rooting-felt.bituminous bed-layer, cant-strip, perforate slates, clamps,staples, and asbestus-cement, all combined substan tially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS II. WHITE.

In presence of- GEO. H. KNIGHT, SAML. KNIGHT.

